Martinsburg daily gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1887-1887, 1887-04-22
A STARTLING SUICIDE.
LIEUTENANT DANENHowER SHOOTS
HIMSELF AT ANNAPOLIS.


The Famous Arctic Explorer Ends His
Own Life While Suffering Under Tenn
porary Fit of Insanity-His sufferings
in the Arctic Regions the Cause.
ANNAPOLIS Md, April 21.-Lieut. John
Danenhower, of Arctic fame corn nitted sui
eide in his quarters at the naval academy
this morning by shooting himself through
the head Lieut.. Dansnhower arrived at
the academy at 1918 a. m. yesterday from
Norfolk, whittier he had been with the
United States steamship Constellation, which
was TO go on the docks. He had been co n
planning of sleeplessness and mental worry
since last Tuesday, which was ifte 1sifed by
the Constellation getting aground while
going into Norfolk harbor.
Surgeon Riddle, who had been attending
the lieutenant called to see Danenhower this
morning about 9:3D, and was Mortified to find
him lying d sal upon the floor, with a bullet
hole through his head, and 32-calibre
Smith IL Wesson revolver lying by his side
with one chamber empty. Lieut.. Danen-
hover arose at o'clock this morning and
had breakfast; the shooting must have oc-
CuFT6u dLLGTWdTuS.N 1lo ledSeS a
widow and two children, who are absent on
visit He was of extremely sensitive ma
ture and of late the slightest thing worrie d
him. During his trials in the Arcti. region
his mind became impaired, anil he never
fully recovered. His eyes, too, were seriously
affected, and this atIliction bore heavily
upon his mind.
Lient Danenhower was thrty-se seven years
of age, and entered the naval service in 1866
from Illinois, in which state he was born.
The lieutenant was 81 duty on board the
United States snip ''Vandalian when that
vessel conveyed ten. Grant to f sypt, and
in this way made the acquain aHce and
gained the high esteem and admiration of the
general So favoraoly was Gen. GRAFT i'm
pressed that when James Gordon Bennett
pr posed the J9llette arctic eS1. ti5lol,
Grant strongly urgel Lieut.. Dlnenlow II -
a fearless and capable ottice. 70. such service.
Lieut.. Danenhower volal5ee.e and was APP
pointed as navigating OH - Of Sat5 exoaE-
ton, sailing in 1879, and passing with credit
through the terrible hardsnip5 of that .voy-
age and the loss of the jeanette.
Naval officers have concalal to Ds9en-
hover the credit for saving hi party. L ,on
hisreturn in 1882 with Melvils al the OILY
other surviving officer, Lieu5. Dllelhow 4.
was an acute sufferer from eye t,ouble, TIL
result OF Arctic privaSions. expp;l'., etc
When suifi GENTLY recovered Eisenhower
was detaile to the Naval acl IL ny@a5 Al
napolis as instructor, AID su1ssl l5ltly as
assistant commandant, i'll watch position he
has been vecy popular vita the ca lets.
Some days ago he went to Norfolk tc
superintend the fitting out of tine practice
ship constellation" aal during this service
manifested such depression of spirits that
his fellow officers believed his mind was I'm
Settled. Yesterday he returned to the naval
academy. Before his Arctic expedition he
was at one time coafined in the asylum near
this city. 1t is generally admitted that he
must have been temporarily insane when he
committed suicide. The lieutenant's personel
and domestic affairs were of the most happy
character. "a few years ago he married in
New York, daughter of state Senator
Sloane of that state
Ministers Object to Crucifixes in Court.
MONTREAL, April 21.-A special meeting